Finding high-quality, low-cost sports gear has become quite the challenge these days. With countless websites and stores it can be hard to make smart purchases. However, there are a couple of things that can improve the odds of finding the best sports gear.
A good place to start is by going to a store that is exclusively dedicated to sports, like Dick’s Sporting Goods. There are multiple of these stores in the Rockville area, including an outlet, where you can get inexpensive and good quality sports gear. This is the perfect option for someone who plays multiple sports and may need all kinds of gear. The more difficult part often comes with looking for sport-specific clothing and equipment.
Baseball and softball are perfect examples of this, as they require a lot of equipment. From the bat, to the glove, to the helmet, there is a lot to consider. Unfortunately, quality gear for these sports comes at a high price. Specific baseball and softball brands such as Rawlings and Mizuno are good places to go looking for gloves, and DeMarini and Marruci are great places to find bats. All of these brands can be found on their website, but if you are looking for a friendlier price point, they are also available on Amazon or at stores like Dick’s.
Almost all brands that create baseball gear will also create similar softball gear. Because of this, it is best to shop for softball gear in a similar manner. Look for the name brands, and find them on an alternative website or in a more general sports store.
Unlike baseball and softball, basketball does not require a lot of gear but focuses primarily on shoes. There are thousands of shoes to choose from, so picking can be difficult. This is why buying basketball shoes in-store, rather than online, can be more valuable. Places like Footlocker or Champs, which are both located in the Westfield Montgomery Mall near JDS, can be very beneficial. They often have a good variety of options and many discounts available.
Many other places sell basketball shoes, but the only ones to truly worry about are resale websites. Sites like StockX are very unreliable and often dishonest. Many sellers will falsely advertise their products and overprice them. By purchasing from this kind of website, there is a large risk that you will receive an off-brand, low-quality product for the price of a high-quality one.
While not all resale sites are unreliable, I cannot recommend them for athletic gear specifically. For instance, GOAT is a more reliable resale website than StockX and they have all kinds of shoes. If style is the primary concern, then this website would be great. Unfortunately, the lack of ability to try on and sometimes return these shoes creates a disadvantage for the buyer. Basketball, tennis, and running shoes all require a more specific fit than the average shoe, which is why resale websites should be avoided.
Soccer also primarily focuses on the shoes, such as cleats. Similar to basketball shoes, there are thousands of options to choose from, making in-person shopping easier. While stores like Nike, Adidas and Under Armour have good options, one store in the area provides a unique experience tailored to soccer players.
PJ’s Sports Goods is a local store right across the street from the Montgomery Mall, and despite its name, it is specifically dedicated to soccer and lacrosse gear. All of the workers there know how to find the perfect cleat in a given price range. The store also provides any uniform necessities for either sport whether it be socks, shin guards, pads, sticks or even the jersey.
Even with all of this advice, it can be hard not to get distracted from all of the options there are. The most important thing to remember when buying any sports gear is that it needs to fit the player. Searching for the right product and the place that has it is really how the best equipment is found, no matter the name of the store.
